I hate Santa Barbara (Antioch: air quality, eat, design)

[Blue Skies]

I lived in Santa Barbara for 26 years. In 2008 I made the MASSIVE mistake of moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I sold my Santa Barbara home of 22 years in late 2007, and was the luckiest person in the world to see at the top of the market. I left Santa Barbara thinking that the wide open spaces of Oklahoma would make me happy. It didn't.
Santa Barbara was once the most beautiful city in the world. Until just about 10 years ago it still (in my opinion) held that title. The city has a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. I can not wait to return in early 2012. I will be able to buy a house similar to what I sold for about 40% less. I will break even on my Oklahoma home. I can not take another summer of 100+ degrees with 90% humidity for over 100 days, or another winter of -10 to 20 degrees for several months. Most importantly for me - I can not wait to return to the culture, people, beaches, ocean, cafes, fresh produce and mountain trails!
There is a great deal made of the 'mass exodus' of Californian's seeking refuge in other states, especially the midwest. I think 80% of them will return to California with 5 years. You can experience the great weather of Santa Barbara and them pull up stakes and move to the midwest without pangs of regret. I am anxious to return to my beloved Santa Barbara!

[reddesertfox]

I am an Arizona man so excuse me but is the aforementioned written in jest.People all over America are a step away from homeless,living in cars etc.Oh,you miss the seasoons do you?Pray tell.
I tip and hand out all day and have since I was 28 and a "rags to riches"story.Give some away..we won't require it where we ultimately arrive.

[Cabguy]

Originally Posted by rachelinala

I'm a travel nurse & was in the bay area for a few months. I loved San Francisco. Now I'm stuck in this horrible little town called Santa Barbara. It makes me sick thinking about it.

It has to be one of the most overrated places I have ever heard of. I'm so disappointed with myself that I bought into the nice things written about this place.

It's horrible. The beaches are ugly, you can't swim in the ocean, and you have to wear flip flops or you'll get tar on your feet. Sick. The shopping is really bad. I thought this was supposed to be one of the wealthiest cities in the country? You sure wouldn't know it from the horrible shopping and ugly homes here. The people are weird. The "downtown" (one long street only) is filled with sick homeless people who yell at you when you don't give them a cigarette. I'm a smoker, and even the heavy amount of smoking going on downtown bothers me. Surprised California is so lenient with smoking.

It takes like 2 hours to get to LA. Not a quick drive. How can people do this all the time? So weird to waste hours in your car. So, I never go to LA.

And another thing, that horrible UCSB school. Wow, a campus right on the beach? You'd think it'd be amazingly beautiful. But, it's ugly, cheap and run down.

I'm just grossed out by this whole dirty nasty city. I don't get the appeal at all!

And it's making me want to leave California for good. I adored San Francisco, so maybe I'll just go back up there for my next job. But, this place has me turned off from anything south of here. I'm worried I would be disgusted living in San Diego or LA now too.

It's so overrated here. Never move here!

Another place that is overrated is Malibu. Why do celebs live there? I drove there one day and thought it was pretty ugly. Sure the beach is amazing, but the homes are ugly and it's just one big nasty traffic ridden highway. How is this a nice little town? I don't get it.

Also, the people here seem..well, dumb. What a difference between working at Stanford and working at the dinky hospital here in Santa Barbara. Wow.

i suggest grand rapids michigan or port arthur in texas.

[alexxiz]

Originally Posted by missalleykay

Your generalizing that all people in Santa Barbara are dumb? You make yourself sound so IGNORANT. Please leave California we don't want you here anyway. You probably have only been in SB for a week and your life is so sad and pathetic your taking it out on one of the most beautiful most expensive places in all of America. Montecito is the 2nd most expensive city in all of California. More expensive than Beverly Hills. It is this way for a REASON. Everyone wants to live here but only the richer people can afford it. that is why you will never find anything less than 1000 dollars a month for even just a studio. Santa Barbara does not allow Walmart and other cheapy ass stores because we don't want those type of people who shop at those stores in our city. As far as homeless people go, it is pretty much like that in any city that has PERFECT weather year around because they have to sleep outside! Why do you think Kim Kardashian's 17 million dollar wedding was here? Or Oprah lives here. Katy Perry was raised here. Paul Walker, Alec Baldwin all live here. You are a pathetic person. San Francisco has more homeless people than any other city besides LA. Get your facts straight and quit your job and get the hell out of here

Need one say more.... OP, get your cheapy ass out of Santa Barbara now! Them Palo Alto snobs ain't going to talk trash about Santa Barbara, they are nobody there.

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by razorback_06

It sounds like you have a personal problem. May I suggest Scranton, PA.

Why would you say something like that? Because "The Office" is set there? I've got news for you buddy: Cali ain't got nothing on Pennsylvania. It's a much better state overall.....Even with the snow. You might wanna spend some time there before you open your mouth.

[.highnlite]

Cali ain't got nothing on Pennsylvania. It's a much better state overall.....Even with the snow. You might wanna spend some time there before you open your mouth.

Why?

Incidentally, California gets vastly more snow than Pennsylvania.

[Sealtite]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

Why?

Incidentally, California gets vastly more snow than Pennsylvania.

Why? Take a look at the unemployment statistics, housing costs, population density, education systems, public services and infrastructure, and air quality of both states and compare them. As for the snow, 99% of the population in California lives in the parts that receive none. In Pennsylvania when it snows, everyone gets shat upon.

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by Sealtite

Why? Take a look at the unemployment statistics, housing costs, population density, education systems, public services and infrastructure, and air quality of both states and compare them. As for the snow, 99% of the population in California lives in the parts that receive none. In Pennsylvania when it snows, everyone gets shat upon.

Look, I know this may be a tough one, but, the reason housing costs are higher in one place than another, is that one place is more desirable than another.

The areas of California with excellent air quality again, is larger than the state of Pennsylvania.
It is hardly "shat" in Pennsylvania or CA, snow is water. water is life.

Now, you gave your examples as to why Pennsylvania is better than CA, and you limited yourself to urban situations. Lets look at Population density,
The area of Pennsylvania is 46,055 square miles, the population is 12,702,379, which gives a density of 283.9 sq/mile.

The area of California is 163,696 sq mi three and a half times the size of Pennsylvania.
The population of California currently is 37,253,956 which gives it a population density of 234.4 sq/mile.

The population of California is less dense than that of Pennsylvania, contrary to your statement.


Now, what makes life worth living, lets take a look at that (true that for urbanites the following is irrelevant, and so is the city they live in, all cities are about the same thing.)
But here is the kicker. About half of California, or approximately 81,000 sq/miles is uninhabited public land. so, take a good look at that, in California a land area nearly twice the size of Pennsylvania has no one living permanently in it, and is available for recreation. That recreation area includes the highest mountain range in the continental US, the lowest place, well below sea level in the US. Millions of acres of National Parks, millions of acres of designated wilderness. Millions upon millions of acres of National Forest thousands of miles of rivers, a thousand miles of coastline. How about this, a foot trail you can follow for all most 300 miles without crossing a road.

The tallest trees in the world, the oldest trees in the world.

The coldest Temperature recorded in California is colder than the lowest temperature ever recorded in Pennsylvania

The highest Temperature recorded in California is hotter (much hotter) than the highest temperature ever recorded in Pennsylvania

etc. etc. etc.


Out of the top 50 Universities in the US, California has nine, Pennsylvania has three.

There are 6 ski areas with over 2,000 vertical feet in California, there are none in Pennsylvania

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by Sealtite

Why would you say something like that? Because "The Office" is set there? I've got news for you buddy: Cali ain't got nothing on Pennsylvania. It's a much better state overall.....Even with the snow. You might wanna spend some time there before you open your mouth.

As I mentioned to you in another thread: I am from Pennsylvania (three different areas of the state: north, central west-ish, and southeast [yeah, Philly])... and I have lived in various parts of California on and off for many years as well (Fresno area, share an apartment in L.A., and four different Bay area communities) ... and I say, with my big, open mouth, that, other than October in PA, California whips PA on pretty much every count. Oh, except I guess coal mining -- you can have that one in your "Win" column.

[.highnlite]

Oh, except I guess coal mining -- you can have that one in your "Win" column.

Just so you know, there was a coal mine in CA, nearly four million tons of coal were extracted right near Antioch.